Meet the Islanders: Tara-The Kiltmaker

Meet Tara, a kiltmaker from Edinburgh whose love of fashion, craftsmanship and Scottish heritage has shaped her creative journey.

For Tara, a kilt is much more than a garment. It carries stories, memories and a connection to family and culture, with the potential to be passed down and reimagined for generations to come. Her approach to style is equally personal, balancing heritage with individuality and a willingness to experiment.

We spoke to Tara about discovering her craft, what Scottish heritage means to her, the stories held within a kilt and how she expresses her own individuality through style.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, where you're from and what you do.

“So, I’m Tara, Tara Jane officially. I’m from Edinburgh. I went to university in the Borders, where I studied fashion for four years.

After I finished university, I went to work for a kiltmaker and started training. Then I found a teacher online and went on to do two courses in kiltmaking. I really enjoyed it. It just felt like it was very much my thing, and then here I am.”

What does being Scottish mean to you?

“I’d say it’s the pace of life. Things feel a little more relaxed, and there’s an appreciation for the smaller things, like little acts of kindness and simply taking your time with things.

I think there’s such a cosy way of living here. I remember speaking to someone about living in Scotland and Scottish people, and I said there’s a quietness to the love that Scottish people have for Scotland.

As soon as you’re behind closed doors, homes are filled with love, people are filled with warmth and appreciation. You just think, ‘Oh, this is my cosy little family.’”

Do you have a favourite thing about living in Scotland?

“I love the winter mornings.

When I was down in the Borders, my friends and I used to go for winter morning walks at around 6am. It was our little bit of outdoor time before getting back to the sewing machine.

Everything would have this warm glow as the sun came through the trees. It was crisp and cold, but with the sun starting to rise, and the scenery and trees all around us. You’d just look around and think, ‘This is glorious!’”

What are some of your favourite Scottish traditions?

I’d say I love a ceilidh. Yeah, love a ceilidh.

Loch Lomond at the end of a wedding night. It’s a very traditional song. I think it’s about a soldier.

And then it’s like, “You take the high road, I’ll take the low road.” So, it’s like he’s returning past life, but his soul will return to Loch Lomond, while his friend is still alive and returns on the high road. He’s going home without him. So they’re both returning home, but also in different forms.

Tell us what first started your interest in sewing?

I used to knit and do things with my grandma, and she’d watch me after school when I was a child. So I learned how to sew on buttons and do all that, and she’d make me help.

Then, just doing little projects at school, I was like… I remember I used to have a binder that I used to draw in when I was, like, eight or something. I obviously thought I was number one designer.

But then when I tried some kilt making, I was like, “This is cool. I like how meticulous it is.”

And I like how it takes so much patience. I think I really enjoyed that aspect of it, even if I get frustrated with it. But I’m like, “Trust the process,” even if you make one mistake, you can’t just cover it up. You must go back and redo it.

You have to learn your craft and you have to learn it inside out. And there are no grey areas. There are no quick hacks to this one.

What do you love most about what you do?

I think I enjoy the connection that someone can have to a garment. I think you’ve made something that has been around for so long, inside of culture and heritage, and has such grounded roots in people’s families, memories and experiences.

I just think it’s amazing to be part of such a niche circle, where you can create something for someone and then they’re like, “That’s what you had on your wedding day,” and then it gets passed on to your son or another relative. Or it can be torn apart and made into something else.

And now it’s wearable. You’re like an architect of cloth."

How would you describe your personal style?

Honestly, it changes every three days.

Sometimes stuff can feel a bit more retro. Sometimes it can go a bit more minimalist, like basic with a twist.

There are so many things that it’s how I imagine myself living and dressing, but then you have to think, “Have you seen the climate?”

Do you think living in Scotland influences your style?

“Yeah, probably. I think it definitely influences your footwear.

It depends on what you’re doing and what the task of the day is. Are satin ballet flats really necessary when you’re walking through the grass? You have to think about what’s actually practical.

You’ve got to dress for the lifestyle you’re living.”

What is your favourite Islander bag?

“My favourite bag is the Washbag, the big one.

It fits so much in it, which makes it perfect for all my sewing bits and pieces. I can keep my pins, needles, wax and clips in there, and the little pockets on the side are really handy for keeping all those smaller bits organised.”

What’s something about Scotland that you think people outside of Scotland don’t understand?

“I think, to an extent, it’s kilts. And not every checked fabric you see is a tartan. That’s not quite how it works here.

A lot of people see a checked fabric and immediately say, ‘Oh, it’s tartan,’ and I’m like, ‘Almost!’”

What advice would you give to other women who want to express their individuality through their style?

Don’t rush it. Don’t put a timeline on it. Don’t feel like, “I need a new wardrobe tomorrow,” and buy everything at once. That’s not realistic. It’s like buying art, in a way. You must invest your time in it to get the good outcome, the final result.